The Stars We Dream Of | A. Romanoff-Barton

Chapter 1: Alivana Romanoff-Barton

On December 15th 1999, Natasha Romanoff gave birth to her daughter: Alivana Romanoff-Barton. The two had a deal. If it was a girl Natasha would name and Clint if it was a boy. The two had agreed on the name being Russian, but to also mean something special. And then Natasha had thought, Alivana, which meant to live.

Something that she would prove to always do.

Alivana was an exact carbon copy of her mother, having the same red hair, youth face, button nose and the same facial features. But, she had her father's chocolate colored eyes, something that Clint had found adorable. She was their perfect little girl .

That night, while Alivana was sleeping in Natasha's arms, the two agents made a promise. They were always going to keep her safe. They weren't ever going to leave her alone. This child meant everything to them. They were going to keep her safe from any harm because god help someone who harmed a hair on her head. Hell would be unleashed.

However, no matter how much one can promise or try, when the dust settles, fate still goes forth.

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Clint spoke in a singsong voice, "Alivana? Pumpkin where are you?" Alivana who was hiding in the closet let out a little giggle. Clint who had heard that smirked. He creeped towards the closet door, "Oh? Are you sure you are not in here?" At the last word he flung open the door revealing the tiny redhead. Alivana squeaked out, "Papa!" Clint lifted his daughter off her feet spinning her around in circles. Alivana laughed, the sound of her laughter was music to Clint's ears.

A few minutes later, Natasha walked inside the apartment happy to home from a slightly rough day. She laughed at seeing Clint spin her daughter around. She smirked, "Looks like you two are having fun, room for one more?" Clint pressed a kiss to his wife's cheek, "Always. How was work?" Natasha replied setting her bag down, "Not as fun as your day was." Alivana shrilled, "MAMA!" Natasha laughed as she took the little girl from her Papa's grasp, "Hey baby, did you have fun with Papa?" Alivana nodded, "So much fun! But we missed you." Natasha nodded, leaning back as she remained holding Ali, "I missed you too."

The three were in the middle of dinner when suddenly the lights flickered off. Heavy footsteps were approaching their door. Alivana looked scared, "Mama? Papa?" Clint scooped her up, holding her tight to calm her down as he retreated towards the sofa for safety. Natasha had pulled out a knife from her sleeve, almost daring someone to pick a fight here and now. Someone kicked down the door sending a massive cloud of dust everywhere. Dozens of HYDRA agents stood poised with their guns ready to shoot. In the middle, the figure had taken off his helmet.

Natasha spoke, "Connor Pierce. Younger brother of Alexander Pierce. What went wrong there? Your brother is sitting as SHIELD, and you?" Pierce ignored her, "Where is the child?" Alivana latched herself onto her Papa, not liking that Pierce wanted her for some apparent reason. Seeing as they wouldn't comply, Pierce ordered, "Take them down, get the girl. Hurt, do not kill. Leave the child unharmed."

Agents lunged at Natasha who easily took the first few down. However, twenty against one wasn't a fair fight. Not when they all had guns but she didn't. Clint had tried to duck out and help Natasha when he felt a gun to the back of his head. The agent snarled, "Move and I shoot." Alivana only buried her head in Clint's shoulder, not wanting to get out of his grip. Pierce pulled out a syringe and injected in Natasha's arm. She tried to move but was unable to. She snarled, "What the hell did you do?" Pierce rolled his eyes, "Nothing that will be permanent. Just enough time to get me what I need. Clint tried to escape but the agent who had a gun to his back kept him pinned down. The next thing he knew, he too was unable to move. Alivana kept herself latched to her Papa, tears streaming down her cheeks. She did not want to go with these men! Or the female agent that had her Papa pinned down! She shook her head, "No!" Pierce chuckled, "Shut up!" He lifted the girl by her collar and Alivana went up dangling in the air. An agent approached her too with the same syringe. Alivana shook, "No! No needle! No needle!" The agent showed no mercy as it was plunged into her soft flesh.

And then everything went black.